Your Right to Know

The mayor of South Zanesville died on Sunday after a fall from the running board of a
firetruck.

Terry Richard Guss Sr., 71, fell early Friday inside the fire station shortly after returning
from a house fire. He had served as a member of the South Zanesville volunteer fire department for
20 years.

Guss, who had been mayor for nearly seven years, was depressurizing the truck’s valves, hoses
and pumps when he fell. The back of his head struck the concrete floor.

Chris Kerby, the fiscal officer of the village, said Guss was alert and talking when medics took
him to Genesis-Good Samaritan Hospital in Zanesville. There, however, a CAT scan revealed bleeding
in the brain.

“By Friday afternoon he was in a coma, and we knew it was only a matter of time,” Kerby
said.

Guss was taken off life support on Sunday afternoon and pronounced dead about 1 p.m.

He had served as the administrator of the village of nearly 2,000, located about 60 miles east
of Columbus, for about 10 years before he was appointed mayor in April 2007, after his predecessor
resigned. He was elected to his first full term two years ago.

“He was the heart and soul of this community,” Kerby said. “He was straightforward, honest and
very sincere. He would do anything for anybody in the village and Muskingum County. His death has
left the community dazed, bewildered.”

Guss is survived by his wife, Anita, three children and five grandchildren.

Council President Jim Perdue will serve the remaining two years of Guss’ term as mayor.